Law enforcement officials on Monday solemnly remembered those killed in the line of duty.
About 75 people gathered inside Findlay’s St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church gymnasium for the annual honoring of the six Hancock County law enforcement officers who have died while on duty. The memorial service coincided with National Police Week.
Across the country, 900,000 sworn officers protect and serve the public. More than 20,000 have been killed over the years while doing so, Chaplain Chris Cravens said in his address.
“Today we will hear the names of those closest to us who have paid the ultimate price to protect our property and preserve the dignity of our society,” he said, “and we remember and memorialize those this night.”
The officers who have died are:
• Findlay Police Officer William Holly, who was shot in 1898 while pursuing criminals.
• Findlay Police Capt. Albert McGowan, who drowned in 1913 while rescuing residents from a flood.
• Findlay Police Officer Frank Arthur, whose patrol car crashed in 1934 while in pursuit.
• State Highway Patrol Sgt. John Best, who was electrocuted in 1935 while testing radio equipment.
• State Highway Patrol Trooper Joel Miller, who was struck by a train while in his patrol car in 1971.
• State Highway Patrol Trooper David Sterner, who was killed during a 1973 high-speed pursuit when another car pulled into his path.